TOWNSVILLE MISSES OUT ON WBBL GAMES

QUEENSLAND Cricket remains committed to bringing a Sheffield Shield clash to Townsville’s Riverway Stadium despite border restrictions throwing concern over the competition schedule.

It comes after the venue was overlooked to host additional Women’s Big Bash League games, which were transferred to Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena.

A week after Townsville City Council claimed there was “not enough content” to make the upgrade of lights at Riverway Stadium viable, a decision to take more WBBL to Mackay is a slap in the face for fans across the region. Queensland Cricket chief executive Terry Svenson – who was in Townsville earlier this week to meet with several stakeholders including the council – was adamant the decision to take more WBBL to Mackay was based purely on logistics. “We did consider several options, including Cairns and Townsville. In the end the logistical challenges presented by moving venues was outweighed by keeping the games in Mackay,” he said.

“It is our intention is to continue to bring high-quality games to regional centres where we can.”